Donors give $3,500 to fund for Hackensack good Samaritan

A formerly homeless man from Hackensack was denied housing and medical benefits after being told he could keep $850 he turned in to police in April.File photo

HACKENSACK — Donors contributed more than $3,500 to a charity fund set up for a formerly homeless man who found $850 on the street, the Record reported.

James Brady was awarded the $850 six months after turning the cash in to police. But the Hackensack Human Services Department denied Brady housing and medical benefits after learning he didn't report the cash as income.

City and county officials said Monday they would reach out to the state to try to restore Brady's benefits. Brady lost $210 in monthly assistance and Medicaid, which paid for treatment to help him cope with depression.

"Mr. Brady showed uncommon honesty and integrity and should not be punished for it," Councilwoman Rose Greenman said.